By Ncaba Ntshakala
The entire team of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Eswatini, led by EU Ambassador Karsten Mecklenburg, in preparation for the year ahead recently embarked on a two-day team-building excursion in the sugar-belt region, which is in the east of Eswatini.
The excursion, which included tours of several EU-funded projects, aimed to deepen the team’s understanding of the delegation’s impact on the Kingdom and to strengthen internal collaboration.
The initiative sought to familiarise all staff members, especially those not directly involved in project implementation, with the tangible outcomes of the EU’s contributions to Eswatini.
RELATED: EU injects E128 million to save cattle and goat farming
According to a statement shared by EU, this effort aimed to strengthen inspiration, pride, and a sense of shared purpose among team members which highlights the transformative results of EU-supported initiatives in local communities.
During the visits, staff members engaged with beneficiaries of EU-funded projects which allowed them to gain first-hand insights into how EU support has improved lives across the country.
Rural communities shared stories of resilience, empowerment, and development made possible by the EU’s interventions.
One of the key stops on the tour was the Umbombo weNdlovu Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society Ltd which is a smallholder sugarcane farming project in Nkambeni.
The society has 344 members most of whom are women. The society’s members shared that the cooperative has benefited significantly from EU support.
“Our lives have surely been transformed, and we really thank the EU for its tremendous support to our sugarcane scheme,” said Sibonangaye Nxumalo, the cooperative’s chairperson.
RELATED: YERF approves over E1.2 mln in loans to aspiring entrepreneurs
“From the EU support, many of our members now live in modern homes, can feed their families, and also send their children to school.”
The delegation further witnessed the cooperative’s achievements, which was hailed as it showed how EU’s commitment has reduced poverty and improved the quality of life in Eswatini’s rural communities.
At the conclusion of the two-day tour, staff members expressed gratitude for the opportunity to connect with the beneficiaries of their work and with each other.
